LaFerrari

Some people say the Ferraris became overrated. They claim they’re too expensive, should always break performance records… But sooner or later a new Ferrari arrives, and everybody else silences. People from all over the world start struggling to acquire one of its own, moving an amount of money which is almost as countless as the wallpapers set by the fans as a symbol of this passion which any other automaker motivates. Having that in mind, how could someone question Ferrari’s title of world’s most powerful brand?

Part of such reputation comes from the fact of the Italians sticking to what made them famous on the first place. Like Land Rover’s typical off-road abilities, Fiat’s expertise at compact vehicles or Volvo’s legendary concern with safety, Ferrari’s difference from the competitor automakers comes from its overall image. LaFerrari once again introduces this worldwide-known set of features starting with the iconic red, but there’s much more worth attention. For instance, its very name goes without the brand’s surname, making this car unmistakable in the same way as Madonna, Sting or Enzo Ferrari, the brand’s founder which was (even more) immortalized with having the company’s previous top-notch car named after him. That’s why the newcomer’s name is the Italian expression for “The Ferrari”, along with official information such as the title of most powerful Ferrari ever built. When it comes to the styling, it’s interesting to observe there are several references both to the present and the past. The car’s overall silhouette leads to think of an evolved Enzo, but at the same time it’s much more futuristic. The sleek headlights took inspiration from recent models such as FF, while the circular tail lights on a Ferrari are nothing but historical. And while F40 and F50 have strongly-wedged fronts, LaFerrari reproduces Enzo’s concept in a taller double-deck element, which juggles with light and shadow to give a very imponent appearance without getting out of proportion

But if all that is some kind of innovation among these supercars, have you noticed something special about that strong line after the side intakes which ends contouring the rear? That’s Ferrari’s way of drawing central engines’ hoods, like at this and this examples. Finally, the glass area had the sheetmetal around it in black for a reason: the colored part becomes hard not to remind of a F-1 vehicle, just like the fascinating interior – the red-and-black room has everything turned into the driver, although a companion is taken with plenty of comfort in this one. As you’ve already read several times, this car brings F12berlinetta’s V12 6.2L improved to achieve 789 hp at 9000 rpm and 516 lb-ft-torque, but paired to an electric engine which adds 161 hp to complete 950 hp and more than 660 lb-ft of torque, using a seven-speed automated transmission. Such power is applied to hand-made chassis with four types of carbon fiber, resulting on much better torsional rigidity than Enzo’s along with amazing 2800 pounds of weight, even with the electric engine and batteries. If you add to that Ferrari’s most advanced technology kit and performance items such as carbon-ceramic brakes, it’s easy to believe in a 98-feet smaller space to a 124-0 mph stop. When you’re moving one of the 499 units the other way, though, you’ll be able to accelerate to 62 mph in less than three seconds, to 124 mph in less than seven, to 186 mph in around 15… and reach the top speed of about 217 mph.

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Lamborghini Veneno

Even though several concept cars are showed at international events to anticipate its company’s short-term releases, they’re usually mixed with the group whose function seems to be only teasing the fans – Citroën Technospace clearly belongs to the first group, while the old Laguna, Mégane and Scénic concept cars don’t have trouble to put Renault in the second team. But how about when what could be a typical member of “the teasers” was actually all the time projected to the streets and is now officially released?

The Italian, Portuguese and Spanish word for poison also names “one of the strongest and most aggressive fighting bulls ever”, a fact which would be extremely hard for this Italian automaker to ignore. But if it was a matter of waiting for a good moment to use it, when would be more appropriate than its fiftieth birthday? But while Sesto Elemento was an entirely new vehicle, this one carries over Aventador’s structure, working as an even more charismatic brother for Lamborghini’s flagship model. Veneno’s proposal is to offer everything from a race car which doesn’t keep it away of being streetlegal. Since this concept doesn’t imply many design restrictions beyond every super sports car’s standards, this machine presents a futuristic styling which some people compare to Batmobile. There are very strong creases and cuts all over the car, creating very complex graphics which may not have the smallest difficulty at distinguishing it from the older models, but surely take it far away from McLaren P1’s elegance, for example – this obviously doesn’t mean that one of those is better or worse, but very different. Specially because Veneno catches anyone’s attention with the little details, such as the 20” and 22” (front and rear) wheels design or the Y-shaped lights both in the front and in the rear, which remind of Aventador’s and finish an unique visual aggressiveness which will certainly scare anyone who sees it through a rearview mirror.

After seeing what was shown with Sesto Elemento, Veneno’s large use of carbon fiber isn’t surprising at all. Actually, it carries over Aventador’s monocoque with aluminum front and rear subframes, and most of the urban brother’s cabin in the same material – since this car’s intention is to reproduce the race cars’ environment, you’ll still see several high-quality materials, but without focusing on luxury or elegance like a Maserati’s interior. After all, the biggest concern of this sports car is obviously the performance: Lamborghini’s V12 6.5L was upgraded from Aventador’s unit to produce 740 hp on the new car, an increase obtained from larger air intakes and modified exhaust system, everything to enable the engine to achieve higher revolutions. Veneno has all-wheel-drive traction paired to the ISR seven-speed automated gearbox, which features the Corsa driving mode to deliver much quicker gear shifts and helps to achieve the 221-mph top speed. The Italian automaker will only produce four units of this vehicle, one of them the exposition unit which is being exposed at these pictures and at the current Geneva Motor Show. The other three will be painted each in one of the Italian flag’s colors, as if it this car needed to assure even bigger exclusivity. Lamborghini has already sold them all by € 3 million each.

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Rolls-Royce Wraith

Each one of the most important automakers became known for applying a particular aspect into every car it releases. Every car fan associates Alfa Romeo and Mitsubishi with sportiness, Audi and BMW with technology and Toyota and VW with conservatism, for instance. They could create a model to each available segment, but they would always be different interpretations of that special characteristic. So how interesting would it be if one of the most classy automakers in the world decides to project a sports car?

Rolls-Royce’s difference from most of the other brands doesn’t come from creating the fastest or the more expensive vehicles, and doesn’t even come from its cars being extremely luxurious or having restrictive prices. It actually comes from the English automaker’s unique concern on its customers receving nothing but the best from these cars, in all the possible aspects. It doesn’t worry about redesigning its cars each three years or to break sales records, but to offer the best available materials for the cabin, making the electronic systems easy and simple to use, delivering plenty of power in all driving conditions, and the ability of riding several floor types as comfortably as if the cars were floating. Not to mention the typical structural quality proved with so many previous Rolls running without problems for decades. After completing Phantom’s line some years ago, with extended-wheelbase sedan, convertible and coupé versions, it’s time to give Ghost its own family. But this couldn’t be done only by repeating the first’s variations in smaller scale, because the younger sibling came with a different purpose. Even though Ghost could still be labeled as a limousine without the smallest problem, its cheaper prices symbolize the intention of being a more “realistic” vehicle, directed to many more people and, therefore, to a completely different market from Phantom’s. That’s why the bigger brother’s variations are actually very loyal to the original concept, while the Ghost family allows bigger separations.

While Phantom Coupé follows the true definition of “version”, Wraith turns Ghost’s underpinnings into a very elegant fastback coupe – 2-inch longer and with 7-inch shorter wheelbase than the sedan’s, with exclusive doors which dispense B-pillars. After observing the gorgeous two-colored exterior design there’s an impressive cabin, with a combination of handcrafted chrome, leather and wood details – the center parts in the latter item are specially selected in order to form the perfect chevron scheme, such as the pictures show. There’s a s infotainment system in the central console, whose glass knob helps controlling the 10.2-inch high-definition screen to customize functions such as the Spirit of Ecstasy’s position. The coolest feature, though, is the available Starlight headliner, which uses 1,340 fiber-optic points to simulate the night sky. The large hood covers Ghost’s V12 engine with exclusive settings, to give Wraith 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and enable it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4s4 and to the limited 155-mph top speed, using an eight-speed automatic transmission. The automaker’s quote of “Wraith is no GT bruiser” is reinforced with having all the many electronic systems working to make the ride as pleasant as possible, rather than quick: the Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS to locate the car and predict the driver’s following moves, in order to always activate the most adequate gear for the moment.

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Aston Martin Rapide S

Among all the car brands and models the current market offers, there are lots of very traditional ones and many others which have received much bigger changes through their history. Dealing with this tradition – or its lack – is one of the automakers’ several struggles when creating a new vehicle, because making right or wrong decisions imply receiving excellent or terrible acceptance. After studying press and public’s opinions for Rapide, Aston Martin now gives it the half-age facelift trying to hit the best possible formula.

There are very few brands like Ferrari or Lamborghini, which prefer to stabilish an identity among its cars by implicit items such as the colors, the engine sound or the overall shape of several external parts. On the other hand, the English automaker here referred is much more similar to Porsche, for example. Since Aston Martin maintains even some of the car names through decades, it’s not hard to expect its vehicles to have very little changes. The problem with that is these cars have started to look too much like versions of a single vehicle, even with their size and price differences. So the automaker decided to follow the path of applying small facelifts, in order to avoid the expenses of new projects too early and only give a different look to cars which, as a matter of fact, have already been approved by everyone when it comes to the other aspects. The four-door’s name received the “S” as standard, not as a new trim level. The biggest external update is at the front grille, which changed the two-part design for a bigger single element paired with a new hood. Besides, the aerodynamics was improved with a new rear spoiler. Aston Martin has managed to make its luxury sedan look young again, not as a whole new model but with an interesting renewed impression, pretty much like what Porsche Panamera will receive with its own facelift, planned to the next months.

But a luxury sports car isn’t made only of style. The sophisticated part is made with an improved acoustic treatment and lots of items such as the Carbon Exterior package, which brings rear diffuser, rearview mirror caps and tail light surrounds using the mentioned material. Not to mention the Piano Black package for the interior, sports perfored two-colored leather seats and all the custom options for colors and materials which are usually offered by the high-end automakers. Besides, the performance part is taken care by the V-12 5.9L engine, which is now mounted in a lower position to meet the current European safety regulations. It was improved to achieve 550 hp and 457 lb-ft, an 80-hp and 14 lb-ft increase from the last phase: Aston Martin states its 0-60 mph time became 0s4 better, with the top speed getting to 190 mph – the consumption rate stays at 14.3 l/100 km, though. The driving has borrowed the Adaptative Damping System from DB9 and Vanquish, allowing the driver to select between three modes: Normal, Sport and Track, but operates along with road condition detectors in order to always find the best possible combination of the driving settings.

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Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster

If you’ve been reading some of this blog’s articles, it didn’t take long for you to notice that you won’t read only what does a new car bring or what has it changed, like an online newspaper. My passion for cars makes me always start a post with brief introductions of the car’s context, like the focus difference between cabriolets and roadsters from Opel Cascada’s text and the frisson caused by top-notch high-performance cars such as SLS AMG. But how about a roofless which is also one of the best sports cars of these days?

The first glances can label those straight creases and strong cuts as belonging to some sort of futuristic spaceship, but there’s no arguing with how outstanding this car is. If Diablo sailed through the 1990s with the best folded-paper style it was ever seen at that time, Murciélago succeeded it in 2001 with an entire evolution, both at the more sophisticated design and at the improved mechanics. And now, another ten years later, Aventador came last year to take the Italian brand’s best spot at the showroom. The 4.000 units of its limited production received such a big worldwide acceptance also because of the technology labeled by Lamborghini as two generations ahead of anything else on sale. Some of the components were projected highly inspired on what the Formula 1 cars use, and the carbon fiber has one of its biggest participations in a car’s parts since it started to be massively applied. The first Aventador came as a coupé and later received special versions, but this one is the first production roadster. This earns a big importance for how it managed to maintain the performance level in spite of the structural changes required by these categories – lacking a rigid roof demands structural reinforcements and at the same time worsens aerodynamics and therefore the performance.

However, Aventador relies again at the carbon fiber, which was involved at a complete reproject of the rear columns to solve the first problem. Besides that, the second one was cleared with a specially-shaped windshield that optimizes the air flow not only to compensate the performance loss when driving without roof but also to reduce the wind noise at the cabin (allowing the two lucky occupants to chat at a normal voice tone) and even create a better income for the big hexagonal air intakes – the different body also demanded a new hood to the central engine. And when you want to close the sky view, there’s more carbon fiber: instead of Murciélago’s fabric roof, Aventador’s rigid roof weighs only 13 pounds and has easy manual operation. This car will arrive in Europe at late 2013 starting at 300.000 euros, but the common people’s main concern is with what impulses it: using the same engine of the coupé version brings a pleasant déjà vu, since it means a V12 6.5 naturally aspirated. There are cylinder deactivation and start/stop system to improve consumption and emissions, but all that aerodynamic efficiency pays off at the three seconds from 0 to 60 mph, and at the 217 mph top speed, always with s traction and an automatic seven-speed transmission which makes it hard to do sightseeing when driving this car.

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Rolls-Royce Ghost e Phantom

Chegamos ao topo. Depois das primeiras especulações feitas meses atrás, hoje foi inaugurada a primeira revenda na América Latina de um dos fabricantes automotivos de maior prestígio do planeta. Não era arriscado apostar que essa honra caberia ao Brasil, que agora dispõe de uma concessionária Rolls-Royce em uma área nobre da capital paulista. Neste artigo você verá o que faz essa marca tão importante e destacada em todo o mundo, e ainda vai conhecer a interessante oferta que ela preparou para o nosso mercado.

Neste blog normalmente se começa descrevendo a questão do design do carro, depois se começa a falar do interior e se termina com as especificações técnicas, alternando com relatos sobre a história do carro ou sobre sua imagem no mercado. Isso levaria a falar que o Ghost e o Phantom são a expressão moderna do conceito de limusine, com linhas retas e clássicas aliadas às idiossincrasias da marca como a estátua acima da grade dianteira, para em seguida tentar abreviar uma lista quilométrica de itens de luxo e conforto e terminar descrevendo o desempenho do carro, mas aqui se tem um caso muito especial. A Rolls-Royce coleciona décadas de admiração e respeito porque vai além de vender carros com luxo. Sua estratégia não se baseia em propagandas, interação em redes sociais ou parceria com grifes de moda ou pessoas famosas porque seu prestígio não vem da exposição massiva, muito pelo contrário. A concepção de um carro desses tem como meta principal exaltar seu cliente, no sentido de que o carro melhore sua vida em todos os aspectos que puder. Trata-se de uma lealdade digna de mordomos, que muitas vezes não se compreende de imediato pelo simples infortúnio de que esse padrão de vida é muito distante do da maioria da população.

Um exemplo de todo esse tratamento dos Rolls-Royce aos clientes está na construção artesanal: a qualidade chega ao ponto de que existem muitos modelos de décadas atrás rodando até hoje, e com a mesma qualidade de quando eram novos. Este é o tipo de carro que se compra para usar as poltronas traseiras, mas sua dirigibilidade provoca suspiros tanto do dono como de seu sortudo chauffeur: os ajustes de direção e suspensão dão a sensação de se viajar flutuando, sem falar no isolamento acústico inacreditável. Além disso, produzir cada unidade individualmente ainda traz o louvável aspecto da personalização, que será amplamente explorado na revenda paulista: os interessados terão direito a visitar o famoso Customer Lounge, sala em que se expõem os diversos tons de couro, madeira e tecidos que se podem utilizar em qualquer modelo da linha. Também existe um telão para que o cliente configure seu carro com a ajuda de um funcionário, porque há uma série de possibilidades tanto para equipamentos extras quanto detalhes como o padrão da costura dos revestimentos internos. Toda essa atenção especial se conclui com a personalização que se pode criar: o cliente pode pedir excentricidades como pintar o carro da forma que desejar, e será atendido.

Contudo, é mais do que óbvio que isso tem o seu custo, não só preço final como também na espera pela entrega, que começa em quatro meses mas pode se estender de acordo com o que o comprador pediu. É interessante notar como se preservam várias tradições da marca até hoje: sempre produzidos na Inglaterra (cidade de Goodwood), até o painel de instrumentos contribui com a elegância geral, porque expressa a contagem de giros em forma implícita: exibe-se a “reserva de força” do carro, num medidor de porcentagem. Fora o detalhe de que eles desprezam os exageros típicos das limusines customizadas americanas: não se veem acabamento em ouro com pedras preciosas, estátuas de materiais nobres ou qualquer outro monumento ao mau gosto em um carro, mas sim um requinte discreto, formando um ambiente de altíssimo nível. O espaço da marca se encontra na Av. Cidade Jardim n° 691 e tem os modelos trazidos pela Via Italia, o mesmo importador oficial de Ferrari, Lamborghini e Maserati. Um destaque muito louvável é que a Rolls já começa oferecendo a linha completa, que inclui o Phantom em versões cupê, cabriolet e sedã com entre-eixos normal ou estendido, e o Ghost nas duas últimas opções. Na ordem, os motores são 6.7 de 453 cv e 6.6 biturbo de 563 cv, ambos V12. O Ghost começa em R$ 2,3 milhões e já tem unidades para pronta entrega.

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Aston Martin Vanquish

Much is said about English cars, and even more is said about top-notch sports cars in general. But the Queen Elizabeth’s four-wheeled countrymen who are receiving all the most recent spotlights have a MINI badge in front of them, while the most famous sports cars usually are the ones from Germany, Italy, Japan and United States. So how would it be to read about an English first-level sports car? That’s what you’re gonna read about at this article, along with finding out that this country has a whole world to offer also in this subject.

If we pay more attention, it’s easy to see that each country has a particular way of making their sports cars. This fact goes beyond the differences of each brand, and bases itself on the emotional side of this car category: as they don’t have to satisfy daily needs such as the ones fulfilled by minivans or pick-up trucks, their companies become totally free not only to express their ideals, but also to express a little of the culture of their own country. For example, the German car usually stand out by the mechanical excellence, with all sorts of state-of-the-art technology to improve as many aspects of the car as it is possible. On the other side, nobody masters the design part as France, whose cars are always showing a new way to dazzle everyone with bold and futuristic lines. And about the Italian cars, we can start saying that “they have style”. From the weird look of the first Fiat Multipla to the plastic string which opened Ferrari F40’s doors, it’s nice to see how intensely they focus at their proposals, even if it means committing a few mistakes. But, again, how about the English? The cars from Hitchcock’s country are elegant, classy. Since the charismatic Mini Cooper, including the extreme luxury of Rolls-Royce and ending with Aston Martin.

Totally restyled, Vanquish has improved in many ways, but specially much more appealing. The muse now was One-77, which gave to the older brother this better sculpted design, with plenty of strong folds to bring a more imposing appearance. And of course, this “genetic connection” actually links Vanquish to all of the most recent Aston Martins and escapes from solutions such as the straight lines of Lamborghini, the round lines of Bentley or all those innovation attempts who characterize Ferrari’s cars in nowadays. Vanquish literally evolves the previous generation’s concept, because the new one reminds it in every angle from which you look it but at the same time gives the impression that everything got better. Which is a very pleasant fact, and the pictures prove it: the new car makes much clearer that the older one’s lines were too clean, precisely without some strong details to make it more attractive. So, if that one looks a little older than it really is, if we put it right next to the new one this difference seems huge. The front end and its double-deck bumper with big air intakes, the sides with a strong line born at the air exhaust and the wide fenders, and a rear who takes all the attentions to the boomerang-shaped lights, it’s really easy to fall in love with this car.

The interior is another delight, starting with the space: this car can be purchased at the 2+2 option, which takes two children at the rear seats, or the 2+0, dedicated to those who prefer to achieve high speeds with only one passenger. The pictures anticipate that this car does remind of that level of luxury so typical of Rolls-Royce and  the now extinct Maybach, where the customer can choose colors and materials to its exact wish. Maybe Aston Martin won’t paint it in yellow with purple dots and red triangles, but there are a lot of options both to the coating and the details, allowing contrasts with Alcantara seats and details in black piano or everything in leather. There are plenty of security items, but the weight is kept under control due to the large use of carbon fiber. This car uses a V12 6.0, which generates 573 hp and turns Vanquish into the most potent production car ever made by Aston Martin. This super-engine takes it at the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 4s1 and to the top speed of 295 km/h – only One-77 is faster than it. This car will start its sales at Europe in a few months, and at the United States in early 2013, with suggested price of US$ 295.000.

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Ferrari F12berlinetta

Surgiram mais fotos e vídeo do último lançamento da Ferrari. Ela chegou com o nobre objetivo de ser a mais nova representante dos italianos no segmento dos “grand tourers”, cupês que ocupam o topo da linha. Trazem o máximo do requinte na cabine, mesmo que alguns levem apenas duas pessoas, mas em momento algum esquecem a prioridade do desempenho espetacular. Com isso, já era esperável que os exemplares mais novos usem doses de tecnologia embarcada cada vez maiores, para atender aos dois focos.

Este conceito também ganha a adesão dos clientes mais puristas, que em geral não vêm aprovando a tão recente quanto intensa mudança de valores que os fabricantes apresentam. De fato, por maior que seja a qualidade desses projetos inovadores, realmente não soa nada natural ver um SUV da BMW, sedã da Porsche ou modelos de luxo da Volkswagen, porque essas marcas formaram décadas de história focando em modelos completamente diferentes. Portanto, é dessa ânsia pela volta às origens que a nova macchina italiana ganha o seu público. Enquanto a irmã FF se vale de sua subversiva carroceria tipo shooting brake para seduzir os clientes mais desligados dessas tradições, a irmã que já ganhou a alcunha de “F12” foge dessa linhagem mais moderna que já teve 612 Scaglietti e 456 GT como representantes. Ela mantém o conceito de cupê de luxo com excelência mecânica que já pertenceu a ícones como 599 GTB Fiorano e 575M Maranello mas trazendo uma extensa série de evoluções, em todos os aspectos.

Um deles é o desenho, que ficou em perfeita sintonia com a linguagem de estilo que a Ferrari vem adotando em sua linha. As formas ficaram mais recortadas, mantendo os relevos de sempre mas com limites formados por vincos mais pronunciados. Isso ganha um resultado interessante porque a impressão final é de o carro lembrar as antecessoras e ao mesmo tempo dar ideia de inovação, porque evoluiu em qualquer ângulo que se olhe. Enquanto a 456 GT apostava nas formas orgânicas e suaves tão típicas dos seus anos 1990, a F12 busca impressionar (ainda mais) pelo jogo de luz e sombra que conseguiu. Repare na dianteira, por exemplo: a maior parte da iluminação fica com o musculoso capô e os farois, formando clara separação visual da ampla grade. Ela se dá porque surge ali uma forte dobra, que acaba por ser o elemento que define o estilo do carro: a lateral se divide entre a luz que ajuda a capota a exibir seu formato todo arredondado tão usado pelas Ferrari e uma saída de ar que decora desde antes da porta até o paralama traseiro bem abaulado, outro traço típico. Esse encanto termina com a traseira, que mistura as clássicas lanternas circulares com os vincos em T que concluem uma personalidade muito marcante.

A profusão de itens de luxo e conforto que envolve a cabine desse carro dispensa apresentações. Aliás, também não se faria necessário comentar sobre as velocidades que esse carro alcança. Mas a diferença da F12 é o que justifica o fato de seu segundo ensaio de fotos se dar ao natural, no lendário circuito de Fiorano: com o tempo de 1m23, a Ferrari anunciou que ela é simplesmente a detentora da melhor marca entre todos os modelos já produzidos pela empresa. E quem é o responsável por tal façanha? O motor 6.3 V12 aspirado, de posição dianteira com tração traseira. Essa usina de força gera nada menos que 740 cv de potência 70,4 kgfm de torque, o que lhe torna o modelo de rua mais potente já produzido por eles. O câmbio semiautomático de sete marchas faz sua ajuda com borboletas no volante e dupla embreagem para que ela faça as seguintes acelerações: 0 a 100 km/h em 3s1 e 0 a 200 km/h em 8s5, além da velocidade máxima de mais de 340 km/h. Como se não bastasse, ela ainda se vale de tecnologias como a start/stop para conseguir o objetivo de consumir e poluir menos que a 599. Bela maneira de se encaixar nas tendências, não?

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Ferrari FF

Idos são os tempos em que as marcas restringiam sua atuação aos mercados nos quais já tinham fama consolidada, com cada vez mais exemplos de mudanças. BMW e Porsche com os SUVs X5 e Cayenne, Mercedes-Benz com os compactos da smart, VW com o luxuoso Phaeton, Land Rover com o urbano Evoque, e agora a marca de Maranello cometendo duas subversões de uma só vez. É o caso de um produto que destoa das outras Ferrari, mas que analisada sozinha acaba mostrando todo o nível de uma legítima… Ferrari.

A primeira enorme diferença se vê no exterior, e na verdade já tem até certa tradição. Afinal, a “Ferrari Four” é sucessora da 612 Scaglietti, e esta era conhecida por aliar o tempero de um superesportivo ao visual e requinte de um carro de alto luxo, capaz de levar quatro pessoas com conforto. Não tem como deixar de notar como as linhas do modelo apresentam clara sintonia com as últimas tendências da marca, fazendo lembrar a 458 Italia. Mas o caso da FF acaba sendo unir o conceito da 612 à elegante carroceria shooting brake. É como se fosse uma perua, mas com duas portas e usando o teto bem rebaixado para manter a esportividade.

As origens desta carroceria alongada vêm de dois séculos atrás, quando o objetivo era alojar instrumentos longos no porta-malas, como armas e outros materiais para caça. E é justamente a fidelidade a estas origens que motiva a segunda quebra de paradigmas. Como é um carro desenhado para levar magnatas a lugares mais inóspitos, a FF responde ao ser o primeiro modelo de sua marca a oferecer tração integral, garantindo excelente aderência em situações de neve ou areia como as das fotos.

Porém, engana-se redondamente quem pensa que a Ferrari tentou criar um utilitário. Sua tração integral tem apenas a finalidade de permitir que ela trafegue por terrenos em que um modelo de tração traseira jamais conseguiria. Além disso, tem como duvidar que se trata de um legítimo esportivo com o V12 6.3 que ela traz? Usa injeção direta e gera 660 cv a 8 mil rpm, força suficiente para levá-la de 0 a 100 km/h em 3s7 e velocidade máxima de 335 km/h. Trazida ao Brasil pela importadora oficial, Via Itália, esta Ferrari chega pelo estratosférico preço de R$ 2,7 milhões.

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Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce

Exibida oficialmente no último Salão de Genebra, a versão especial do superesportivo italiano passa a ser trazida para o Brasil pelas mãos da importadora Platinuss, que já conta com uma unidade encomendada, e que aumenta a linha Murciélago por aqui: coupé por R$ 1,5 milhão e Roadster por R$ 1,7 milhão.

Mas não é apenas pelos exorbitantes R$ 2,7 milhões pedidos que este modelo é exclusivo. Se o SuperVeloce não parecer suficiente para indicar o nível do modelo, o número 4 simboliza a tração integral. Enquanto isso, o número 670 é nada menos que a potência do motor, um 6.5 V12, que lhe confere uma relação peso/potência impressionante, de 2,3 kg/cv.

Como era de se esperar, baixo peso e alta potência produzem resultados surpreendentes, como aceleração de 0 a 100 km/h em 3,2 segundos, e velocidade máxima de 342 km/h. As novidades visuais ficam por conta do exterior com acessórios que melhoram a aerodinâmica e o interior com materiais de peso reduzido.

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Mercedes-Benz Classe S AMG

Os Mercedes-Benz são sinônimos de tecnologia e requinte aliadas a um ar de limusine que rodeia desde a linha mais acessível, a Classe C. Seus padrões são tão diferentes do que nós estamos acostumados a ver que o que eles chamam de modelo de topo, a Classe S, são carros praticamente perfeitos. Em desenho, motorização, luxo e elegância, mas que atingem o ápice quando a divisão AMG faz sua clássica intervenção mágica em prol da esportividade.

Por fora, nada de cores chamativas ou spoilers imensos. Só os mais atentos vão notar a grade dianteira mais pronunciada, as rodas de titânio de 19 polegadas na frente e 20 atrás, as lanternas com LEDs, ou o item que melhor anuncia o poder do carro: os logotipos nas laterais, indicando “6.3 AMG” ou “V12 Biturbo”.

Sim, o S63 AMG já encanta com seu 6.3 V8 de 525 cv e transmissão automática de sete marchas, mas o S65 fascina, com seu 6.0 V12 de 612 cv e transmissão de cinco marchas. Fazem 0 a 100 respectivamente em 4,6 e 4,4 segundos, e ambos chegam aos 250 km/h, apenas por serem limitados eletronicamente.

Além das melhorias de 3% no consumo, eles ganharam ainda mais tecnologia ao incorporar itens como o Torque Vectoring Brake, que melhoram a dirigibilidade em situações mais esportivas. Por aqui, o S63 é vendido a 302.500 dólares, enquanto o S65, que tem entre-eixos mais longo, sai por 413.500 dólares.

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